Authentically Joycelynn

Living Whole in the Kingdom of God

balanced life

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Your Next Shift: A Book Review, by Nurse Author/Entrepreneur, Elizabeth Scala

Your Next Shift

Your Next Shift

I was honored to be asked to read this very authentically written book by Elizabeth Scala, Your Next Shift: How to Kick Your Nursing Career into High Gear.  I saw my own life through the eyes of her writing. Clearly, I could identify with the feelings Elizabeth has felt. She very honestly spoke about her own struggles, feelings of self-doubt, and ultimately the breakthroughs she has experienced. Your Next Shift is a must read for all nurses who are considering a change in nursing career focus, a nurse who wants to explore entrepreneurship, or any nurse struggling  in their current role.

If you haven’t already read Nursing From Within: A Fresh Alternative to Putting Out Fires and Self-Care Workarounds, also by Elizabeth Scala, I would highly suggest you obtain this book as well for your nursing tool belt. Both books are essential for today’s nurse, especially in the ever changing health care system we find ourselves in today. (just needed to put a plug in for Nursing From Within, because I also found it so inspiring)

As I was reading Your Next Shift, I found myself thinking about my own struggles and victories related to mindset, self-care, and being authentic in my own nursing career. Each chapter became a checklist for me as I asked myself “Am I meeting this goal? Have I considered this option? Are my actions in alignment with my heart and focus?”

yournextshift

 

Putting the Pieces Together

I’m an avid puzzler.  LOVE the 2000 piece puzzles! In the winter time, it’s especially nice to be working on a puzzle project. It’s very calming and it’s a nice change to get off the electronics (which we all need time away from). Your Next Shift is made up of puzzle pieces which Elizabeth Scala puts together in the most healing way. She uses a “line upon line, precept upon precept” approach, as she starts with her story (and most parts I identified so strongly, I thought she was writing about me). She then starts at the beginning, with analysis of where we are and where we see ourselves. She discusses our mindset (so important), and then begins to share how to make that shift from where you are to where your heart/focus is.

Here are Elizabeth’s books easily located on Amazon:

Nursing From WithinYour Next Shift

 

When you finish Your Next Shift, don’t set it aside! It’s really a “how to” manual and you will be referring to it time and time again. Whether you want to find more joy in your current job, (and you need to learn how to shift your mindset), or you want to make a shift into another nursing focus, or you want to explore being a nurse entrepreneur: this is the book for you!

Elizabeth Scala and I met as we are both nurse bloggers. We both are passionate about well-being, self-care, and nurse entrepreneurship! (I think that’s why I just LOVE to read her posts). My focus and passion is more directed toward women who are cancer survivors, and women going through mid-life transition, while Elizabeth is passionate about empowering nurses!

Elizabeth’s blog can be found at ElizabethScala.com and you can also purchase her books directly from her website.

~ Authentically Joycelynn

 

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Declutter Your Life

I’ve lived in a world of overwhelm so long, I didn’t realize I was drowning. Deciding to de-clutter my life is actually looking at ALL areas of my life. This includes my physical surroundings, my financial budget, emails, Facebook, and even work.

I read two e-books several months ago by a new Facebook friend, Shirley Harvey. The first was “The Happy Hoarder’s Guide to Getting Rid of that Crap”, and “The Spiritual Guide for the Clutter Buster”.  Both books started a journey for me which I really knew inside, needed to happen. I want you to know; I am NO WHERE NEAR having all my “crap” in order! But I’ve started the process.

I’m a little ADHD, so I can’t start a project and see it through right away. I start something, get bored, and move onto the next project.  At some point, I come back around and finish up what I’ve started. I work on my emails and social media off and on. Sometimes I will have pockets of time and will spend 15 or 20 minutes unsubscribing from email lists. I may take 20 or 30 minutes to look at all those pages I follow on Facebook and “unlike” those not relevant to me anymore. This frees up space and time for me later.

I decided to take a look at our “money drains” and let go of things we really don’t need. Take for instance the Home phone/cable/internet bill that companies neatly “bundle” for us. Ah, isn’t that sweet. They help us with a nice tidy package so we don’t have a separate bill for each one…Well; I decided I didn’t need that package anymore. So, my husband and I received a little gadget from our son in law and daughter at Christmas called Apple TV… It’s a one-time gadget to hook up to the TV, and you can play things like Netflix and Hulu, and other cool things through it.  So, a few weeks ago, I got rid of the home phone, and cable. We ordered a little digital thing from Clear TV. I purchased 2 of them for 19.95 plus shipping and handling. We received them today! We get 26 channels. We have tons of movies to watch through Netflix. I pay for internet only now.  My bill went from $204.00/month to $55.00/month and I increased the speed of the internet! (You have to have internet for the Apple TV to run) I also use internet for my blogging and other business stuff!

simple is beautiful

Today, I was talking about my iPhone on Facebook. Found out I could get unlimited talk and text from Cricket for $50.00/month for the usage of 2 phones. When my ATT contract ran out, I was going to switch. We have unlimited plans for 2 phones, and its $165.00/month. Well, I called ATT today and asked if they had an unlimited talk/text plan, and I found out I couldn’t do it since we had “smart phones”… What I did find out was that we could get rid of most of the data and as long as we use our data sparingly, we could change our plan to $65.00/month… How cool is that? So I did that! We will be saving another $95.00/month.  Wow! That feels SO freeing.

I went through a really crazy DE clutter on Facebook and Pinterest the other day.  I unfollowed about 400 pages I liked on Facebook. I had never cleaned through those, and I couldn’t believe how many I had “liked” over the years I’ve been on Facebook. So, that feels better. I also unclogged my Pinterest account, and only “follow” those pages who really “Pin” things I’m interested in.  Whew!

My next two projects are my office and my kitchen. I’m starting with my kitchen tonight. Would you believe I’ve got about 30 sharp or serrated knives? WHY do I have so many? WHY do I need to keep so many? I don’t!!! So, I’ve got a box, and the “extras” are going there, and going to Goodwill!  Also, why do I have 3 different ½ cup measurers? I don’t need but 1. OK. Out the other 2 go. I don’t need duplicates. I don’t need things I never use. Out they go. My goal is clear countertops, and a peaceful view. (or if any of you locally know where I can donate this kitchen stuff for people to get it free, PLEASE let me know)

backtobasics

I LOVED Shirley’s books because what I realized is that I am hindering my peace and flow by all this clutter. So, I’m back at it again. I’m setting small goals (Kaizen Steps), working toward my goal to work at home by de-cluttering my finances and creating an atmosphere of peace in my surroundings.

What goals do you have? Do you need to de-clutter? Don’t know where to start? Does it feel TOO overwhelming? Let me help you begin your process. Realizing WHERE to start is the first step. I was able to help a coaching client a few years ago after she took the Wellness Inventory. We developed a strategy. She utilized Kaizen Steps, and it wasn’t long until she had her home in order! That wasn’t MY priority for my life then, but now it is.  Isn’t it awesome how we are individuals, and we are all at different places in our lives? I’m organizing my space and my place for a new chapter in my life! What are you ready to change?

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Got stress?

 

I am reading and seeing many articles about burnout and stress in professional women. I think this area is one that people are aware of but are afraid to talk about. Facing reality can be difficult. When we are honest with where we are, changes may need to be made. We may need to change some habits, or make a change of scenery. Many times burnout comes as a result of a disconnect between where we actually are in life, and where we really want to be.

I have to admit my own struggle in this area. Quite possibly, this is why the area of wellness and balance is so intriguing to me. Have I achieved a total sense of wellness and balance? No I am on a journey. After I wrote the article, My Best Life at 50, I have made changes and although not always consistent changes, I believe I am at least traveling in the same direction.

I had an “aha” moment this week as i was looking back over some of the work shifts I had recently encountered. I had several areas of stress but not necessarily because of work related situations. I had been struggling with symptoms of bronchitis. My body was tired as I had not slept well the previous week. What I want in my life is less stress, and I want to have the reaction of calm when stress wants to take over. What I realized is when I am in what is perceived as stressful situations, my coping mechanisms haven’t taken over as I would have liked. My “aha” moment is  that my coping mechanisms have not become “me”. What do I mean by that? I believe in “breathing” and “guided imagery”, “yoga”, and “being present”. However I haven’t practiced these principles to the point where they are my automatic habit, or “who I am”. These attributes are who I want to be and how I choose to deal with stressful situations.

How do these skill sets become our “breath” or who we are? These come about by practice. Practice when times are controlled. Practice when stress isn’t upon us. It reminds me of soldiers who are trained for combat. They have practice drills. They train and learn strategy. The soldiers aren’t placed in battle until reacting to combat is second nature. Their ability to react becomes their “breath”.

Practicing being present, attention to breathing, yoga exercises, or guided imagery are all great ways to deal with real or perceived stress. I just found some awesome apps for my  iPhone. I have yoga DVD’s and just purchased a yoga ball and mat. Practice makes way for preparation! I will be prepared next time I perceive a stressful situation. What about you?

 

Be Well,

Joyce

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Daybreak Journey

It’s early morning, and instead of sleeping late after working 12 hours shifts, I’m up and my mind is racing. I’m on this journey. Some call it a spiritual journey, an awakening, or just restlessness to get to the meaning of it all. I’m deeply passionate in my relationship with God…but there is more that I’m struggling with. I’m moved by the weight of breaking through my purpose. It feels like I’m giving birth to a new beginning and I’m bursting with this new life inside that HAS to be born.

This restlessness has been relentless for 8 years now. I don’t suppose there is a fast start button to push that instantly gives us the answers. The answer is in the process. The struggle. The questioning. The searching. Yet my own insecurity of not being enough, not having enough education…somewhere in the midst of it I’ve felt like I should be a doctor to have an impact, not a nurse. But here I am…a nurse searching for the deeper way to reach humanity. There has to be more than passing pills and following a doctor’s orders. Those are tasks, yet that is what we’ve been reduced to. Time for human touch it seems, has been set aside in order to meet budget, break even.

Finding no meaning in the “American Dream”… the idea that we need to own, and have and get…what is that about? I’m realizing that I want more and to create more, income and otherwise, but not so I can “have” but so that I can “give more”. Realizing that yes we do need flow of income to create our dreams, but my dreams have become about making an impact and providing tools to set people free from their min dprisons, and from their cycles of self sabotage and fear…Being whole and being well is a foreign concept in America.

3 John 1:2 has become a powerful passage to me. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as they soul prospereth”. There is that connection and need for all of us to eb whole. Our mind, body, spirit and finances. There is also the issue of healing. People want to be healed, but don’t understand that being WHOLE is a better way. people long to take a pill to be healed of their infirmities, while not realize it ALL fits together. How can a real physical healing take place while there is emptiness in the mind or spirit or soul.

There isn’t always a peer reviewed study for the way an herb is used, or the way prayer manifests healing or how human touch and empathy can touch another and miracles occur. I always step back a bit when I hear a nurse being critical about natural health/healing because there isn’t a “study” to back it up. It actually makes me sad for them…so analytical they can’t believe anything unless a study shows it to be true.

I recently found a book by Lissa Rankin, MD, in which she is a physician who went through a journey, similar to what I’m experiencing now. I’m deeply entrenched in learning of her journey and now the difference she is making in the arena of healing. The more I move forward in the arena of wellness, the more I’m connecting with others who are also on this journey. What has begun in individuals is now becoming a movement.

I’m taking my life back.